List of Arcade ports

So coming from here, I took Darguel's excellent MD game list (with year of release, developer & publisher and most importantly a column to sort unlicensed, etc. games which I used to trim them) provided in this other thread.

Please help me add or maybe cross out starting from this list (I'll upload the modified spreadsheet complete with developers & publishers afterwards). I sorted them alphabetically but I could present them by year of the port which is maybe less practical but more interesting? As I stated on the other thread, I wish to consider the concept of a port a little loosely (but not as much as to consider Mega Bomberman a port, for example)

Thanks to all present & future contributors. We start at 150 games (from around 915 of the Mega Drive / Genesis catalogue alone; please refer FTM to this thread for the MCD / 32x)

First is the arcade release date, then the arcade title (if sufficiently different from the port), then the MD title(s) (sometimes regional diferrences apply) and finally the date of the first MD release.

Year Arcade title MD / Genesis title Year
1987 After Burner II 1990/03/22
1990 Air Buster / Aero Blasters 1991/01/31
1990 Alien Storm 1991/06/28
1988 Altered Beast 1988/11/27
1972 Pong Arcade Classics (Atari) 1996/07/30
1980 Centipede Arcade Classics (Atari) 1996/07/30
1980 Missile Command Arcade Classics (Atari) 1996/07/30
1980 Defender Arcade’s Greatest Hits (Williams) 1996/09
1981 Defender II Arcade’s Greatest Hits (Williams) 1996/09
1982 Joust Arcade’s Greatest Hits (Williams) 1996/09
1982 Robotron 2084 Arcade’s Greatest Hits (Williams) 1996/09
1982 Sinistar Arcade’s Greatest Hits (Williams) 1996/09
1989 Arch Rivals 1992/01/02
1992 Art of Fighting 1994/01/18
1986 Atomic Robo-Kid 1990/12/14
1988 Atomic Runner 1992/10/16
1991 Bio-ship Paladin / Uchuu Senkan Gomora 1991/09/30
1989 Blockout 1991/02/18
1990 Bonanza Bros. 1991/01/09
1989 Burning Force 1990/10/19
1989 Cadash 1992/03/04
1989 Caliber .50 1991/11/01
1991 Captain America and the Avengers 1992/03/04
1989 Championship Bowling / Boogie Woogie Bowling JP 1993/02/14
1988 Chase H.Q. II 1992/04/30
1990 Chiki Chiki Boys 1992/10/16
1990 Columns 1990/06/30
1989 Crack Down 1990/12/20
1987 Airwolf CrossFire / Super Airwolf 1991/03/29
1988 Cyberball 1990/07/28
1989 Dangerous Seed 1990/12/18
1987 Super Real Darwin Darwin 4081 1990/04/07
1989 DJ Boy 1990/05/19
1985 Doki Doki Penguin Land MD 1991
1987 Double Dragon 1992
1990 Double Dragon 3 1992/04/12
1988 Double Dragon II: The Revenge 1991/12/20
1986 Double Dribble / Hyper Dunk JP 1994/03/04
1992 Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine / Puyo Puyo JP 1992/12/11
1989 Dynamite Duke 1990/10/27
1989 ESWAT: City Under Siege / Cyber Police: ESWAT JP 1990/07/14
1991 Fatal Fury 1993/04/23
1992 Fatal Fury 2 1994/06/24
1990 Fire Shark / Same! Same! Same! 1990/11/02
1984 Flicky 1991/05/01
1988 Forgotten Worlds 1989/11/17
1981 Frogger 1998/03
1990 G-LOC: Air Battle 1992/08/16
1988 Gain Ground 1991/01/03
1988 Galaxy Force II 1991/08/12
1985 Gauntlet Gauntlet IV 1993/09/17
1988 Ghouls'n Ghosts 1989/08/03
1989 Golden Axe 1989/12/22
1991 Growl / Runark 1991/11/15
1989 Hard Drivin' 1990/12/21
1988 Heavy Unit: Mega Drive Special 1990/12/26
1989 Hellfire 1990/09/28
1990 Hit the Ice 1992/06/24
1989 Insector X 1990/09/07
1991 Joe & Mac 1994
1988 Ka-Ge-Ki: Fists of Steel 1991/04/26
1991 King of the Monsters 1993/11/26
1992 King of the Monsters 2 1994/04
1992 Lethal Enforcers (menacer) 1993/07/25
1994 Lethal Enforcers II: Gunfighters (menacer) 1994/05/11
1988 Sukeban Janshi Ryuuko Mahjong Cop Ryuu: Shiro Ookami no Yabou 1989/12/14
1989 Marvel Land / Talmit's Adventure EU 1991
1989 Master of Weapon 1991
1990 Mercs 1991
1989 Midnight Resistance 1990
1992 Mortal Kombat 1993/09/13
1995 Mortal Kombat 3 1995/12/31
1995 Mortal Kombat 3 Ultimate 1996/03/08
1993 Mortal Kombat II 1994
1981 Ms. Pac-Man 1991
1996 NBA HangTime 1996
1993 NBA Jam 1994/02
1994 NBA Jam Tournament Edition 1994/11/10
1988 New Zealand Story, The 1990/03/03
1986 OutRun 1991/08/09
1992 OutRunners 1994/05/13
1987 Pac-Mania 1991/06/11
1984 Paperboy 1991/02/15
1982 Pengo Pepen ga Pengo 1995/12/22
1988 Phelios 1990/07/20
1990 Pit-Fighter 1991/01/09
1989 Klax PORTED 2 TIMES 1990/09/06
1984 Marble Madness PORTED 2 TIMES 1991 / 1993
1993 Power Instinct 1994/11/18
1994 Primal Rage 1995/05/04
1993 Punisher, The 1994
1994 Puyo Puyo Tsuu 1994/12/02
1994 Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R 1995/01/13
1993 Puzzle & Action: Tant-R 1994/04/01
1990 Race Drivin' 1993
1990 Raiden Trad 1991/07/06
1987 Rainbow Islands Extra 1990/10/05
1990 Rampart 1991
1989 Nastar Rastan Saga II 1990/08/10
1994 Revolution X 1994
1987 RoadBlasters 1991/05/20
1990 Rolling Thunder 2 1991/08/17
1989 Sagaia / Darius II 1990
1993 Samurai Shodown 1994
1993 Saturday Night Slam Masters 1994
1989 Shadow Dancer 1990
1986 Side Pocket 1992
1986 Slap Fight 1993/06/11
1990 Snow Bros.: Nick & Tom 1993/05/28
1985 Space Harrier Space Harrier II 1988/10/29
1978 Space Invaders Space Invaders '91 (‘90 JP) 1991
1988 Splatterhouse Splatterhouse 2 1992
1991 Steel Talons 1992
1992 Street Fighter II’ Champion Edition Street Fighter II': Special Champion Edition 1993
1989 Street Smart 1991
1989 Strider 1990
1991 Sunset Riders 1992
1991 Super Baseball 2020 1993
1985 Fantasy Zone Super Fantasy Zone 1992
1987 Super Hang-On 1989/10/06
1989 Super Monaco GP 1990
1989 Super Off Road 1992
1990 Smash TV Super Smash TV 1992
1993 Super Street Fighter II 1994
1987 Thunder Blade Super Thunder Blade 1988/10/29
1989 Super Volleyball 1991
1991 Terminator 2: Judgement Day T2: The Arcade Game 1992
1989 Task Force Harrier EX 1991/12/20
1989 Tecmo World Cup ‘90 Tecmo World Cup ('92 JP) 1992
1985 Teddy Boy Blues 1991
1988 Tetris 1989
1992 Time Killers 1996/06/07
1991 TMNT: Turtles in Time TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist 1992
1989 Toki: Going Ape Spit / JuJu Densetsu JP/KR 1991
1988 Truxton / Tatsujin JP/KR 1989/12/09
1989 Turbo Outrun 1992
1987 Twin Cobra 1991/02/22
1989 Twin Hawk 1990
1991 Two Crude Dudes / Crude Buster JP 1992
1989 Ultimate Qix / Volfied JP 1991/01/25
1989 Vapor Trail 1991/08/02
1992 Viewpoint 1994/08
1994 Virtua Fighter 2 1996
1992 Virtua Racing 1994/03/04
1987 Wardner 1991/04/26
1988 Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair 1990/12/22
1992 World Heroes 1994/08/16
1989 Wrestle War 1991/06/28
1995 WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game 1995/10
1989 Zero Wing 1991/05/31

Alright, thanks for the list and being more inclusive was probably the right move. Some comments on games that I wouldn't put on the list:

Not arcade ports:
1989 Championship Bowling / Boogie Woogie Bowling JP 1993/02/14 - In the arcades I believe it was just the MD game in a cabinet?
1988 Sukeban Janshi Ryuuko Mahjong Cop Ryuu: Shiro Ookami no Yabou 1989/12/14 - In the arcades I believe it was just the MD game in a cabinet?
1988 Chase H.Q. II 1992/04/30 - Special Criminal Investigation (ARC) has significant differences in graphics, level design and gameplay. The SMS version is more of a port than this one.
1985 Doki Doki Penguin Land MD 1991 - More of a remake based on the SMS version, and the arcade game looks the same as the SG-1000 game.
1987 Airwolf CrossFire / Super Airwolf 1991/03/29 - It's a sequel to Airwolf (ARC)
1986 Double Dribble / Hyper Dunk JP 1994/03/04 - It's a completely different game from the looks of it
1989 ESWAT: City Under Siege / Cyber Police: ESWAT JP 1990/07/14 - Its own game on MD. Significant level design, mechanics, graphics and audio differences
1981 Ms. Pac-Man 1991 - Remake with 2-player simultaneous mode and new mechanics
1982 Pengo Pepen ga Pengo 1995/12/22 - Remake with new mechanics, new levels, a campaign/co-op mode with bosses, different music and a 4-player battle mode.
1989 Shadow Dancer 1990 - Its own game on MD.
1985 Space Harrier Space Harrier II 1988/10/29 - It's a sequel.
1988 Splatterhouse Splatterhouse 2 1992 - It's a sequel.
1985 Fantasy Zone Super Fantasy Zone 1992 - It's a sequel.
1978 Space Invaders Space Invaders '91 (‘90 JP) 1991 - More of its own game on MD.
1989 Toki: Going Ape Spit / JuJu Densetsu JP/KR 1991 - Pretty much its own game on MD, besides the music.
1991 TMNT: Turtles in Time TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist 1992 - More of its own game on MD, with one level based on the first TMNT arcade game, and one unique level IIRC. The level design is also different to TMNT IV, some levels are missing and some bosses are different. 2-player only.
1994 Virtua Fighter 2 1996 - Its own game on MD.

Borderline cases:
1990 Chiki Chiki Boys 1992/10/16 - Differences in mechanics (there's a shop between levels for example), challenge and various stats, no 2-player.
1985 Gauntlet Gauntlet IV 1993/09/17 - A remake with new game modes and soundtrack, though I suppose the default mode is similar enough. Haven't played both.
1989 Insector X 1990/09/07 - At least a visual remake, not sure about the rest.
1992 King of the Monsters 2 1994/04 - No co-op mode or sidescrolling beat 'em up parts, larger character roster from the get go?
1987 Rainbow Islands Extra 1990/10/05 - Two game modes (original and extra), faster spawning rainbows, power ups don't disappear (original mode), lower jumps (original mode), different enemy placement and behaviour (original mode), other minor control differences
1990 Mercs 1991 - Includes a new game mode (original mode) with new levels, character building, multiple playable chars and a new soundtrack. No 2-player
1988 New Zealand Story, The 1990/03/03 - "The MD port was based on a prototype revision of the Japanese arcade board, leading to radically different level designs which lack the on-screen map for navigation. There are also fewer levels; 13 versus the 20 seen in other ports. This version is considered to be harder, as Tiki takes less time to drown underwater while enemies are faster and more aggressive."
1991 Sunset Riders 1992 - 2-player only, different bonus levels, no samples for the music?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alianger

1988 Sukeban Janshi Ryuuko Mahjong Cop Ryuu: Shiro Ookami no Yabou 1989/12/14 - In the arcades I believe it was just the MD game in a cabinet?

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I suggested this game's possible inclusion so I'll answer: These are two different games in terms of story - the arcade game is an adult 'undress' game, which obviously wasn't going to fly on the MD. However, the gameplay is exactly the same. It's not simply a mahjong game, by the way. It has all these wacky power-ups and special attacks (and the computer totally cheats so you have to use the specials to win). It's pretty clear that the gameplay was ported over to the MD with a new story thrown on top, since the games play exactly the same and use the same weird mechanics. Since the arcade version was on System 16, and they were released within a year of each other, it's highly likely the engine code was ported and the story/art re-done to get rid of the perverted stuff.

thanks, I'll look into those replies next week and update the list. I located some megatech "arcade" games but not all it seems...

Allianger, having teste both versions of the borderline cases, I thinks it's safe to set them as ports even if they aren't direct, straight, no additional content ports. I may have doubts with Insector X, but even then, it's mostly like the affair with Decap Attack.

Your other list is a whole different affair, though. I will cross out some games from my list (but maybe leave them with a strikethrough or something. Or divide the list between real ports and sequels/variations, I'll look into that.

Let's get into it:

Quote:

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- I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT EVEN IF THERE'S THIS 1989 Championship Bowling / Boogie Woogie Bowling JP 1993/02/14 - In the arcades I believe it was just the MD game in a cabinet?
- SEE GRYSON'S POST 1988 Sukeban Janshi Ryuuko Mahjong Cop Ryuu: Shiro Ookami no Yabou 1989/12/14 - In the arcades I believe it was just the MD game in a cabinet?
- MORE A SEQUEL THAN A PORT YES BUT I'D LIKE TO KEEP THOSE SOMEPLACE, MAYBE NOT ON THE LIST? 1988 Chase H.Q. II 1992/04/30 - Special Criminal Investigation (ARC) has significant differences in graphics, level design and gameplay. The SMS version is more of a port than this one. >>>> THIS WILL HAPPEN WITH SOME OTHER PORTS/SEQUELS
- AGAIN NOT A DIRECT PORT BUT STILL 1985 Doki Doki Penguin Land MD 1991 - More of a remake based on the SMS version, and the arcade game looks the same as the SG-1000 game.
- SAME THING 1987 Airwolf CrossFire / Super Airwolf 1991/03/29 - It's a sequel to Airwolf (ARC)
- SEQUEL OR "UPDATED" VERSION 1986 Double Dribble / Hyper Dunk JP 1994/03/04 - It's a completely different game from the looks of it
- NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT TO NOT CONSIDER IT SOMEWHAT PORT IMHO BUT BORDERLINE I RECKON 1989 ESWAT: City Under Siege / Cyber Police: ESWAT JP 1990/07/14 - Its own game on MD. Significant level design, mechanics, graphics and audio differences
- JUST AN IMPROVED REMAKE, SO IMHO STILL A PORT 1981 Ms. Pac-Man 1991 - Remake with 2-player simultaneous mode and new mechanics
- SAME THING: UPDATED GAME 1982 Pengo Pepen ga Pengo 1995/12/22 - Remake with new mechanics, new levels, a campaign/co-op mode with bosses, different music and a 4-player battle mode.
- NOT THAT DIFFERENT FOR NOT CONSIDERING IT A PORT, SAME IDEA EVEN IF DIFFERENT GAMEPLAY, LEVELS... 1989 Shadow Dancer 1990 - Its own game on MD.
- YES BUT SAME CASE AS OTHERS, NOT A LOT OF DIFFERENCES FROM THE ARCADE "FIRST PART" 1985 Space Harrier Space Harrier II 1988/10/29 - It's a sequel.
- SAME THING, THERE'S NO PART ONE ON THE CONSOLE, GAME LOOKS A LOT ALIKE 1988 Splatterhouse Splatterhouse 2 1992 - It's a sequel.
- IDEM 1985 Fantasy Zone Super Fantasy Zone 1992 - It's a sequel.
- SEQUEL, PORT, IMPROVED VERSION... NOW THAT'S A PORT EVEN IF IT'S NOT A STRAIGHT-FROM-ARCADE-SPRITE-PORT 1978 Space Invaders Space Invaders '91 (‘90 JP) 1991 - More of its own game on MD.
- PLAYED BOTH, NOT THAT DIFFERENT 1989 Toki: Going Ape Spit / JuJu Densetsu JP/KR 1991 - Pretty much its own game on MD, besides the music.
- SAME THING: SURELY ON ALL THOSE CASES IT'S NEVER A TECHNICAL DIRECT PORT OF THE ARCADE RESSOURCES TO THE MD LIMITATIONS, SOME THINGS ARE REDONE, ETC ETC THIS CASE IS BORDERLINE, THOUGH. BUT WE YOU PLAY BOTH, YOU JUST CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THIS GAME IS ADAPTED FROM THE ARCADE (OR AN INTERMEDIATE PORT), BECAUSE IT IS 1991 TMNT: Turtles in Time TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist 1992 - More of its own game on MD, with one level based on the first TMNT arcade game, and one unique level IIRC. The level design is also different to TMNT IV, some levels are missing and some bosses are different. 2-player only.
- THEY JUST ADAPTED THE GAME TO THE CONSOLE LIMITATIONS, FOR ME THE GAME IS A PORT EVEN IF THE GRAPHICS AREN'T 1994 Virtua Fighter 2 1996 - Its own game on MD.

Borderline cases:
1990 Chiki Chiki Boys 1992/10/16 - Differences in mechanics (there's a shop between levels for example), challenge and various stats, no 2-player.
1985 Gauntlet Gauntlet IV 1993/09/17 - A remake with new game modes and soundtrack, though I suppose the default mode is similar enough. Haven't played both.
1989 Insector X 1990/09/07 - At least a visual remake, not sure about the rest.
1992 King of the Monsters 2 1994/04 - No co-op mode or sidescrolling beat 'em up parts, larger character roster from the get go?
1987 Rainbow Islands Extra 1990/10/05 - Two game modes (original and extra), faster spawning rainbows, power ups don't disappear (original mode), lower jumps (original mode), different enemy placement and behaviour (original mode), other minor control differences
1990 Mercs 1991 - Includes a new game mode (original mode) with new levels, character building, multiple playable chars and a new soundtrack. No 2-player
1988 New Zealand Story, The 1990/03/03 - "The MD port was based on a prototype revision of the Japanese arcade board, leading to radically different level designs which lack the on-screen map for navigation. There are also fewer levels; 13 versus the 20 seen in other ports. This version is considered to be harder, as Tiki takes less time to drown underwater while enemies are faster and more aggressive."
1991 Sunset Riders 1992 - 2-player only, different bonus levels, no samples for the music?

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So as you can see maybe we'd all be more comfortable with terms like adaptation or improvement or similar-to-original-sequels-exclusive-to-the-console, but still, I think we can call most of them ports safely. Bottom line for me is that programmers having added content to the game doesn't make it not a port because there are still more things in common than different (yes that could make most in-console sequels technically ports... like MK2 being called a port of MK which is nonsense, but you get my idea).

I think I'll try to put an asterisk on most if not all of those in the spreadsheet anyway, maybe with your notes if that's ok with you.

Whatever, I'm not reading all of that in caps lol. As I said, people can decide for themselves so a larger first list wasn't a bad idea.

LOL sorry, the important part of my post is outside the quote box...

The Space Invaders '90 / '91 doesn't have an arcade equivalent, it should be treated as a console exclusive entry.

Juju Densetsu is extremely borderline as a case. I don't think it shares one single level layout to the coinop counterpart. It basically is for all intent and purposes more like a sequel to it. (a la Shadow Dancer)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aleste

The Space Invaders '90 / '91 doesn't have an arcade equivalent, it should be treated as a console exclusive entry.

Juju Densetsu is extremely borderline as a case. I don't think it shares one single level layout to the coinop counterpart. It basically is for all intent and purposes more like a sequel to it. (a la Shadow Dancer)

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Toki is an enhanced port with more levels, but the first ones IIRC are mostly the same as the arcade original. As for Space Invaders, it doesn`t have a 1:1 arcade equivalent, as many games on this list, but it is based on/ported from the 1978 arcade game.

If you want to separate straight ports and enhanced/adapted ones, just check second post (Alianger's). Another great thing to do would be to list homebrew/unlicensed/pirate arcade ports/adaptations.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chilled

As for Space Invaders, it doesn`t have a 1:1 arcade equivalent, as many games on this list, but it is based on/ported from the 1978 arcade game.

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Well, every Space Invaders is inspired by the '78 original, but this one still is its own thing. Unique Iwadare score. Unique graphics and power-ups. Unique idea to make a vertical shooter not only horizontal, but even more stretched than 16:9 (due to having the score and info bar at the bottom)... Making it quite nasty, I'd say.

Anyway, this is no more an arcade port than Bare Knuckle is due to it being inspired by Final Fight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aleste

this is no more an arcade port than Bare Knuckle is due to it being inspired by Final Fight.

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Nope, that's a big jump you just made there. Some games can be almost considered genres in themselves and in that light you are right, and the game has enough differences to not being considered a direct port, but Arkanoid is not a Breakout port and BK is not a Final Fight port, but MD's Space Invaders 91 adapts the game (to 1990 gaming and graphical standards?), not only the "formula".

I don't know enough about Space Invaders '91 to say. If the levels are new, it's a sequel, not a port or adaptation.

Shadow Dancer and E-SWAT on the Genesis are blatantly different games than the arcade games bearing the same titles, though. Not a single level comes back. That's not an adaptation, and that's not a port, it's a company creating and releasing an entirely new game and giving it the same title as another. That's all. The game's actual content is what determines whether it's a port, not the title. Reprising an "idea" or "formula" is what sequels do most of the time, as well. More loosely defined, it's what most games do. It's not a valid standard for determining what a port is.

I have no idea what the reasoning is for including Genesis originals like Space Harrier 2 and Splatterhouse 2. They aren't ports by anyone's definition. When people made a straight-to-video/dvd sequel to a theatrical release, no one called it a home release of the theatrical film. Why stretch the definition of terms to such an absurd level?

Toki can count as an enhanced port, since they took the original game and added a bunch of new contents. Sunset Riders, arguably a very loose adaptation, as it does reprise some level sections and bosses, but it's mostly a different game. Same for Hyperstone Heist.

I get it, you're interpreting the "port" thing in a sort of loose manner.

In fact, with Space Invaders I would probably take out also:

Space Harrier II (it offers a Space Harrier-like experience, but it's a sequel)
Splatterhouse 2
Shadow Dancer
Super Fantasy Zone

All of these have arcade-like qualities, but were marketed as sequels. I appreciate the inclusiveness of the list (heavily modified ports like Chelnov or Insector X, I agree they should stay) but I'd cross a line when the stage layout is entirely new; graphics are mostly redone etc. I'd probably remove the Hyperstone Heist as well, although it's borderline.

On the other hand, if you keep them, and consider something like Space Harrier II a port of Space Harrier, or Splatterhouse 2 (which has even the backstory continuing the plot) a port of the first Splatterhouse, then I'd say these are legit to qualify in your list:

1988 Haunted Castle -> Castlevania Bloodlines/Vampire Killer (1994)
1987 Contra -> Contra Hard Corps (1994)

Finally, you might want to add to the list Midway's Jerry Glansville Pigskin Footbrawl (Pigskin 621 AD) and Kaneko's Wani Wani World (Berlin Wall).

You are so right about some of those... let me think about the list, it should definitely be split in two or three parts: direct ports, enhanced/altered ports and sequels (but the problem would be that there would be from the second category and very few 1:1 ports (and for that I could just follow Sega Retro's method for assuming when one game is a port and when it is a distinct game). I still want it to be the more inclusive the better, though the Contra example doesn't feel right to me, but maybe it is just that: a feeling, and you are pointing at my method's flaws. I do feel that in that case it could be considered a port/sequel to the SNES game, not the arcade, though. As for Haunted Castle, isn't it an arcade port/adaptation from the previous NES game?

For the homebrew/unlicensed/pirated ports:

SegGala - (recreation of Galaga by Bill Hubanks)
Pong RAM - (port of Pong by TmEE)
Shin Samurai Spirits Haohmaru Jigokuhen/Samurai Spirits II - (loosely based on Samurai Shodown II)
Soul Blade Super - (loosely based on Soul Blade/Edge)
Tekken 3 Special - (loosely based on Tekken 2)

Shinobi - Currently WIP

Not really that many...

I also wouldn't include Chase H.Q. II as a port since it is a sequel (after all it is confusing that there are 3 games marketed as Chase H.Q. II/2, only Taito considers the recent one to have that name) and a completely different name in Japan as Super H.Q. Since there might be a list of sequels ala Space Harrier II, you can add it there though.

Let's see what's different: Ability to choose from 3 cars each with different abilities (SCI only has one), the music, the level design, the presentation, the enemy cars, even the vehicles themselves with bikes in SCI. Even when played for the first 5 minutes, you notice the first stage is completely different. In SCI, it is split between two lanes at the start and has a darker tone, the enemy vehicle is in red and has dialogue from the criminal once you finished the stage.
"It's Bob, the Boss". In Chase HQ II MD, it starts off brighter in just one lane more similar to the original then gets close after the bridge, has a jump, the enemy vehicle is in yellow with a different design and the level finishes off similar to the original game "Ok, you're under arrest".

Also the gameplay is considerable different even though it is mostly similar, in Special Criminal Investigation you have the ability to fire at while you are driving while in Chase H.Q. II MD you can't. This means that it has different strategy when dealing with the criminals. The only similarity is that they are scrolling driving games and have a similar story because you are a police officer. It's like saying the arcade Full Throttle, RoadBlasters and Out Run are the same game just because they have a red car in them.

Oh and regarding Championship Bowling? Completely different game. This is the arcade version: https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=ch...detail&id=3874 and this is the Mega Drive one: http://www.sega-16.com/2007/07/champ...bowling/2-175/ Different developers for one (Arcade is done by Seta while MD is done by Visco, a weird case though since those two companies have a connection with each other) and a different view point for another.

I'm curious as I am fairly new to the topic so i have to ask, how many of the games on that list that can be considered as good or superior to their arcade counterparts?

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Originally Posted by Heri

I'm curious as I am fairly new to the topic so i have to ask, how many of the games on that list that can be considered as good or superior to their arcade counterparts?

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In my opinion a fair few. Without going through the whole list and breaking it down, I would say Two Crude Dudes, Atomic Runner, Gauntlet, Slap Fight MD, Hellfire, Zero Wing, Darius II, Mercs, Darwin 4081, Snow Bros, the Puyo Puyo games, and Insector X are all as good or superior to their arcade counterparts. A lot of others have elements that are better than the originals like improved soundtracks even if the overall ports are not quite on par (Midnight Resistance, Strider, Vapor Trail).

Gauntlet, Mercs and Slap Fight have arrange modes that are practically new games, the latter two being praised by some as better than the source material.